Chapter 26

If Gwen didn't know better, she thought Merlyn stood guard in front of Arthur's office. She'd come to Arthur's office to go over the last of the Garneau preparation before Fashion Week. From the looks on the young assistant's face, she pitied anyone who might dare to venture passed him. It wasn't like Merlyn to be so solemn and protective, despite the recent events at Penn. He seemed more likely to lift Arthur's spirits at times with his tomfoolery than anyone. Lately, her time with Arthur was often laced with his sadness, a blue black mood she sometimes couldn't shake from him. What Gwen admired about him was his ability to see the best in everyone, now not so much.

"Merlyn," she smiled broadly as she approached. "Why so glum?"

"He hasn't told you, has he?" He said in a hush tone as he pulled her off to the side.

"Kiera's lawyers, or should I say Carter's lawyers came by and served Arthur with papers," he said.

"For what?" Gwen's brow already furrowed with concern.

"Technically, as Alistair's offspring, she's entitled to half of Arthur's shares that he got from his grandfather. In fact, because Kiera was born first, of the twenty percent shares he received, she is to receive fifteen percent and Arthur only five." Merlyn explained.

"She would have more than him, oh my God."

"Luckily, when Arthur's mother died, he received another six. It still would leave him with less."

"What does that mean," Gwen asked as she eyed the closed door to Arthur's office.

"It means she'd have a seat on the board. The only thing stopping her from totally taking control is Arthur's proxy for Alistair. Alistair's has forty percent of the company share and controlling interest with Arthur's share."

Gwen thought about the implication of what that meant. A spiteful Kiera on the board of Penn wasn't a good thing. Considering she knew Carter had an interest in Penn as well. Was he using Kiera or was she using him. Kiera had only gotten the Garneau project off the ground because of Carter help. It made Alistair pay attention. Gwen suspected that Carter wanted more than Alistair's attention.

"What happens if Alistair doesn't get better and return to Penn?" Gwen said solemnly.

"Knowing Kiera, she'll fight over the proxy. It will come down to a legal fight. More importantly, there will be a fight on the board for control."

"Christ." Gwen shook her head, understanding what Arthur faced.

"With the security breaches, the board's confidence is waning. Penn is bleeding money. Between the legal battles Arthur has to deal with and fending off Keira, these breaches are not helping his case with the board." Merlyn said.

"Do you actually think anyone would put Kiera in charge of Penn?" Gwen said with come doubt.

"No, but she has Carter standing next to her. If the board sees them as a team, they know with her they get Carter. He's a man who knows how to run a successful company. "

"I don't believe that. Kiera's smart but she'd no Arthur." Gwen hated to speak ill of her, but she honestly felt Kiera would do Penn a disservice if she took over.

Merlyn shook his head.

"Kiera is Alistair's daughter, make no mistake. She may play the dilettante but she's not. She's smarter than Alistair or Arthur knows."

Gwen cocked a brow at this. Kiera understood how Penn worked just by being around Alistair and Arthur, but how much did she really know. Merlyn seemed to believe a great deal more.

"While most women in her position wasted her days away on trips to Europe, pretty clothes and other frivolous things, Kiera came to work every day, took whatever little project Alistair allowed her and stayed close by his side. She finally pushed Garneau because she got the backing of Carter. Alistair couldn't say no to that."

"But don't you think he's using her?"

Merlyn nearly laughed.

"Kiera set up the Charity gala ambush like a mob hit. It caused the maximum chaos and damage she needed. That's not Carter's style, that's all Kiera. She wanted Alistair humiliated, Penn in panic and Arthur off his guard. Who else would know the effect on what she did but her."

"It nearly killed Alistair," Gwen complained.

Merlyn shrugged. "Added bonus because, if Alistair dies, his shares will be divided between his offspring. That would give her an edge over Arthur and she could have him voted off the board, if she pushed it."

Gwen shook her head. "This is crazy. I need to see him."

"Well tread likely, his armor is up." Merlyn warned.

Gwen thanked him before entering into Arthur's office. If Merlyn was right, what she'd planned with Cassandra seemed impossible. Had she been fooled by Kiera? Was the woman she'd had long conversation about love and just silly things been wearing a mask? It was a question she couldn't answer now, but would have to in time. Now she took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door before opening.

"I told you I didn't want to see anyone Merlyn, or must I tattoo it to your forehead," Arthur barked. He stood at the window looking down onto the city street with his back to her. His hand clasped tightly behind his back as if he were some soldier standing guard. Maybe he was. Enemies were at the gates of Penn threatening to destroy it.

"Does that include me," she said softly.

It took an instant for the scowl on his face to change into a slight smile. The tightness in his shoulders relaxed as she walked toward him and fell into his arms. They stay that way for some time, neither speaking nor needing too. Gwen pulled back to look up into the stormy blue eyes of Arthur. Her heart broke at the worry on his face, a face that held the weight of the world. He smiled down at her, before giving her a gentle kiss and caressed her face and touched the beautiful silver earrings that dangled from her ears. She'd intentionally worn them to remind him of their day together. His smile widened.

"I guess Merlyn told you," He said with some irritation.

"He's worried about you," she said.

"What good will that do." Arthur sighed deeply, momentarily distracted by a thought.

"What will you do Arthur?"

"Fight." He said.

Gwen saw the steel in him.

"Can you fight her…Keira?" She searched his eyes for the truth and saw the doubt. This was Kiera. They had grown up together. If now sister by blood, she'd always been his sister in his heart.

"What choice does she leave me? Giving her what she wants would tear Penn apart. I can't allow that."

"Because of your father?" Gwen asked tentatively.

Arthur stepped away, leaving her feeling cold and alone. She knew Arthur could be ruthless and focus when he wanted. That was the Penn in him. But the part she'd come to love was another side of the man. He cared deeply and with his whole heart. Despite the barriers he puts up, he loved Penn and the people who work for him. To reconcile the halves to make a whole had been his struggle and she knew that about him.

"Your father is spared from Kiera's wraith, but you aren't. She's angry and hurt and wants to take it out on someone. How can all your years growing up together mean nothing to her and to you?" Gwen pleaded softly.

Head bowed, Arthur shook his head. "This is no simple family squabble. The outcome could cost millions and people's livelihoods. I cannot appear weak Guinevere. She'd take advantage of that and have my head on a spike." When he looked up at her finally, she knew his words were true.

Gwen thought of Cassandra's words. They plagued her like some broken record. Was she to believe the tea maker or put her faith in Arthur? If she guessed wrong it would destroy his trust in her and maybe their love.

"This story is old," Cassandra said. "Only you can change the ending."

An odd sense of déjà vu struck her. That strange feeling that every move or action she had taken she had taken before. Always by Arthur's side as he stood against those who might do harm. At each turn she followed his lead, gone without question into the fire that would inevitably engulf them. She had to brave enough for them both to do the things she had to do to guarantee a different outcome. Gwen was afraid and would admit it, everything could be lost, and including the man she loved.

Before she allowed her fear to get the better of her, she shut her eyes and imagined life with Arthur years from now, growing old with him, loving him until the end. What would their children be like, or their grandchildren. Where would they live? Where will they take their last breath and finally put an end to their story.

"Guinevere?" Arthur's questioning voice pulled her from her reverie.

"Yes Arthur," she said as she pulled herself from her reverie.

"After the gala I'd planned to tell my father about us." He pulled her into his arms again. "I wanted to tell him, I'd given you my mother's ring and the plan to marry."

"God knows what Kiera would have done with that information," she said.

"Let me deal with Kiera and the board," He whispered into her ear and planted a kiss just below it.

In his arms, Gwen felt the familiar sensation of a thousand years of knowing. Her mind drifted to the Arthur of the past. Alone in his castle, doomed to live and die over and over at the hands of his sister. All of her love couldn't save him. It made her pulled back and struggled to put on a reassuring smile. She would let him do what he needed, play the role of the soldier. However, she would not be on the sidelines. Taking Cassandra's words to heart, this time would be different. This time, she would dictate the path they take. She wanted to believe that she had a thousand lifetimes to get it right. However, Gwen didn't want another thousands lives with Arthur, she wanted this one.

"Let me let you get back to work," she said and kissed him quickly before stepping away. There were things to be done and very little time to do it. The Garneau show at fashion week was only days away. Everyone must play their part, including Arthur and there things to do.

"I have to take a dinner with a few of the board members to reassure them, so don't wait up." Arthur said.

She smile widened. "I'll wait up."

Leaving Arthur's office, she found Merlyn in a deep debate with one of the tech guys from Gray's department. If she didn't know better, it sounded more like an argument. Deciding to leave the two men in their disagreement, she left them and headed for the elevator. Ten minutes later, she found herself standing in the door way of Gray's office. Preoccupied by something on his computer, he hadn't noticed her until she stepped further into the room. He responded with a wide smile that quickly vanished.

"You look grim my dear," he said getting up from his desk to greet her.

"So much for my poker face," Gwen lamented and sat herself into one of Gray's high back chair.

"Is there something I can assist you with? I do hate to see you in such distress. Between Arthur, Merlyn and Alistair these are gloomy days indeed," he said. Grey took the chair opposite her.

Gwen felt reluctant to get the older man involved, but Cassandra insisted she needed him. Once she told him her plan and agreed to participate, the consequences could be devastating to them both.

"Arthur has put his defenses. Merlyn is by his side and will follow him anywhere. They are useless," Cassandra said.

Gwen knew she was putting her trust in someone who might be certifiably insane. The entire plan was insane and the fact she was in charge proved it.

"I need your help." She began and took a deep breath to find her nerve.

"Anything." Grey offered as his face filled with genuine concern.

Gwen smile but lost it quickly. The smile felt like a lie and she had to tell the truth to Gray. How could she explain that she had to take a sword away from a soldier, negate the power of a witch and make a fool look like the smartest man in the room?